Rising Stars: Meet Cierra Lewis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cierra Lewis. 

Hi Cierra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Let me sip my wine first, I started Food Blogging during a very challenging time in my life. I was in graduate school in Philadelphia, PA to earn my MBA while also going through a very toxic relationship. I felt like the only thing making me smile during that time was Food. One day I decided to visit a Brunch Cafe called Green Eggs Cafe. I remember ordering the Chicken & Waffles and saying, “This taste absolutely amazing” I remember smiling and started taking pictures of my food on social media. I started to feel so happy receiving compliments from my foodie pictures and I remember the joy I felt while doing so. I started thinking to myself, “Cierra, become a food blogger” Create something that is going to help you overcome stress & make you happy. Little to my knowledge, Restaurant managers began reposting my foodie pics & tagging me. This helped me choose my brand name @brunchwithcee.

That day, I decided that I was no longer allowing anyone to steal my joy. I graduated with my Masters and walked away from a relationship that was serving me absolutely no purpose at all.

I moved back to the DMV, surrounded myself with friends and family who helped me feel at peace. I decided to join the DMV Foodies & began hosting brunches for the culture. I

I wanted to make a difference in my community by allowing other Black Owned Businesses to promote their talents and product. I believe there is enough room for all of us to eat together if we can decide what that table will look like. I can’t tell you how much becoming a food influencer has helped me make an impact in my community and gave me the freedom to create my own path of living.

Brunch truly makes me happy and my goal is to make sure people can eat, spread love & sip mimosas unapologetically. Sometimes the best conversations are had over food.

Fast forward to today, I have partnered with PJ’s Coffee, My Cake Theory, Pin Stripes, Dunkin, Panera Bread and hosted 3 sold out brunches. I plan on traveling to more states around the world to brunch and network with amazing people & show them how to create their own seat at the table.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, this has not been a smooth road. What I have learned is that not everyone will support or like what you do and it is absolutely fine.

I had to learn that food blogging makes me happy and not everyone around will understand why you love food the way you do. I would get messages like, “You brunch to much” or “all you know is food.” My answer is always Yes, Yes & Mind your business.

I learned how to block out the negative chatter and continue to EAT EAT EAT for Cierra lol. I connected with other food bloggers who were on the same path as me. This helped me feel better about posting more foodie pictures and networking in the DMV.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work for FEMA; I help service individuals who have been impacted by natural disasters such as Hurricanes or Earthquakes.

I am most proud of finally living in my purpose and helping others be their authentic self. I want people to know that you can overcome anything and when someone or something does not have your best interest at heart, leave and go find your happiness again.

Brunch and food blogging sets me apart from others because it’s not a skill that take years to figure out if it’s working or not. It is simply something that you do that you are passionate about and you really don’t care what others think.

How do you think about happiness?
Aside from Food making me happy. I enjoy learning who Cierra has grown to be. Every growing stage I walk on, there is something new I discover within myself. It took me 28 years to find out what truly makes me happy. I will narrow it down to three things.

God’s Covering

Genuine Unconditional Love

Amazing Food

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @brunchwithcee